Statement by George Loucaides, Co-Chairperson of the United European Left of the PACE, regarding the attempt to expel Israeli MK Ayman Odeh from the Knesset

During today's session of the Committee on Political Affairs and Democracy of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), the Co-Chairperson of the Political Group United European Left and member of the Cypriot delegation, George Loucaides, condemned the ongoing proceedings brought before the Knesset with the aim of expelling Israeli MK Ayman Odeh from the body.

Specifically, in a teleconference held during the aforementionedCommittee meeting with the participation of Israeli MKs Meirav Ben Ari and Boaz Bismuth, representatives of the Knesset in the PACE, he called on them to take action to end the process of expelling Mr. Odeh. He also stressed that the attempt to expel Mr. Odeh constitutes a punitive reaction to his public and courageous calls for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, for an end to the Israeli occupation and for the achievement of a two-state political solution between Israelis and Palestinians.

Silencing an elected member of the Israeli parliament because of his political views, the Cypriot MP stressed, is a flagrant violation of freedom of expression and democratic principles. At the same time, he continued, it sends a particularly worrying message to the Palestinians and Arab citizens of Israel that their parliamentary representation is conditional, their voices are ignored and their rights are under constant threat and violation.

In conclusion, Mr. Loucaides called on all members of the Knesset to reject the proposal to expel Mr. Odeh, defending the inalienable right of all Knesset members, Israeli and Arab, to freedom of speech without fear of expulsion or criminalisation of their opinions.

24.06.2025